CHAPTER TWO;

It had been a long but pleasant ride, they did not talk much but it was always a comfortable silence. Marian was happy to be out in the fresh air again, enjoying the changing colours of the fall country-side. And Guy, he was happy to watch Marian 'ooh' and 'aah' at the beautiful surroundings. Oh how it warmed his heart to see Marians face lit up with a brilliant smile.

The dark of night was beginning to close in around them, but thankfully the village had come into sight.

"Finally, we are almost here." Guy said, patting the neck of his giant black war horse.

"I really enjoyed today. Once again you came true for me, Guy. I am so grateful to have you as a friend. Thank you." Marian smiled softly.

For some reason calling Guy her friend felt wrong, it seemed like she was lying to herself.

"Think nothing of it, Marian. I would do anything, will do anything to see you smile at me the way you just did." Guy told her, his voice tender and kind, so full of hidden emotion.

"I really don't know the real you at all do I?" Marian sighed, shaking her head.

"I would like you to.." he whispered.

"Guy, I…"

At that moment a roll of thunder boomed behind them. Guy was grateful for the interruption, he could not bare another rejection speech from Marian. Who was he kidding, she will never have him.

Guy stared at Marian, she was grinning mischievously.

"Do you fancy a race, Sir Guy? She challenged him.

"My lady, I ACCEPT!" he exclaimed as he galloped away.

"Hey! That's not fair!" Marian shouted. She raced after him, pushing her horse hard. Guy could not believe his eyes when Marian sped past, all the while laughing wildly.

"You, are, beaten!" she panted breathlessly, grinning from ear to ear.

"I let you win" He said very matter-of-fact, straightening his posture and giving a side wards glance, hiding his smile.

"Ha! You are a sore loser, Guy! I won, even after you cheated. You need to come to terms with the fact that I am the better horse rider" She stated, grinning proudly.

"Well isn't someone cocky?" Guy laughed, enjoying seeing her is such good spirits. How beautiful she looked at that moment. Her cheeks flushed pink, eyes shining so brightly. "Lord above she is stunning." Guy thought.

"I am not cocky, Guy. I am merely stating fact." She beamed. "Now let us get to the inn before we are caught in a downpour."

The porter lugged their belongings up to their room. THEIR room! Marian's heart rate began to increase as they approached their chamber. THEIR chamber! "Oh lord" Marian wanted to flee, get as far as possible from this situation. " I will be spending the night with Guy.. Oh what are you worrying about?" she mentally kicked herself. "Guy will not do anything, you silly girl!" Guy had shown a truly different to himself, she must admit, she felt her heart grow fond of him. But she could not just dismiss all the wrong he had done, all the atrocities she has seen him commit. "Keep your head, Marian. Remember who he is." She prepped herself. "but is that really who he is?" Doubt flooded her senses. Oh this is going to be a long night.

Later, they sat by the fire, feasting on a delicious stew.

"Marian I must go now, I shall return shortly" Guy stood to leave, putting on his wolfhead gloves. Such a simple addition to his outfit made him instantly more menacing.

"Who are you giving the letter to?" Marian fished for information.

"I am sorry, I cannot tell you that" he shook his head.

"Then I am sure I will not approve of what is contained in this letter! More treachery!" she hissed, crossing her arms across her chest.

"Must it always be a fight with you, Marian?" Guy sighed. "Will you stay in the room while I am gone. The tavern here, may not be safe for you"

"I can look after myself!" she protested.

"I know you can." He said through clenched teeth, rubbing a hand over his face in frustration. "but I would appreciate if you stayed in the room"

"Fine!" she snapped.

Guy shot her a defeated look, they were getting on so well earlier. "I'll be back soon"

Marian faced away from him, staring into the hypnotic flames of the fire till she heard the door click close. "What am I doing? I didn't need to be so short with him. And after all he has done for me today, even after what I did to him. Here I am, acting like a spoiled brat!" Marian dropped her head into her hands in shame.

A flash of lightning lit up the room, soon after the heavens opened up. The rain hurtled towards the ground.

"He'll be soaked to the skin and very cranky when he returns. I had better play nice." Getting up from her chair, Marian went to Guy's satchel. She took out his spare clothing and laid it by the fire. Marian laughed to herself. "You would never catch me doing this for Robin." She froze. "Robin.. that swine!" she hissed. The very thought of him made her stomach lurch in disgust.

Her Mother once told her that there are no greater crimes, than crimes of the heart. How right she was. Never had Marian felt such pain. "How could he profess to love me, yet betray me in the worst possible way?" Anger boiled in her blood again. "For years I remained alone, waiting, hoping for his return. But there was no sign of him, not even a letter to assure me he had not perished! Do I mean so little to him? Will the King always come first?"

'When the King returns, Marian, then we can wed' She mocked aloud. "Will he ever bloody return? He would run off again if the King required his services, and he would do so without a moment's thought for me." Reality was finally hitting her.

"What a fool I've been. Childish fantasies and nothing more. Well I am sick of coming second in his affections. It's time I grew up, I cannot wait around for Robin any longer. He is a boy, playing a boys game. He is not who I thought he was, and most importantly he is not who I need right now. I need a man, not a boy. I am tired of this, I want to start my life! Robin has brought me nothing but pain and suffering since his return" Marian sighed deeply, sinking into her chair. "How have I been so blind?"

The harsh knife of spite stabbed her heart. "Truly, what good has he done? Each time he defied the Sheriff, the sheriff took his anger and retribution out on the people of Nottingham! It is worse here than it ever was. What a glory hungry fool!" Marian scoffed. " I must be done with him, or I'll never be happy."

At that moment, Guy burst through the door, completely soaked to the skin. Marian could feel the annoyance rolling off him.

"Guy, you are drenched! Here.." She handed him a towel. He took it slowly, eyeing her curiously. "I've put a change of clothes for you on the chair by the fire" She pointed.

"Thank You. What has brought about this sudden change?" He asked, drying his face with the towel.

Marian gazed at him. His hair was a black as night from the rain, slicked back from his face. A drop of rain slid slowly from his hair down his neck. Marian was transfixed by it as it hugged each soft curve of his neck, till it slid beneath the collar of his leather jacket. She had never before taken in his beauty. How his pale skin made his blue eyes seem to shine as bright as a sapphire caught in the suns light. The chiselled line of his jaw. His stature so dark and powerful. He was devilishly handsome, she could not deny it.

"Marian?" Guy sounded concerned. How long had she been staring? She blushed crimson.

"Erm.. what did you ask?" She smiled sheepishly.

"It does not matter" Guy huffed an amused laugh. "I am just glad to see you are in better spirits."

"I'm sorry I snapped at you earlier, I had no right. You have been so kind to me today"

"Forget it, Marian. I took no offence."

"Alright. Now you should take off your clothes." She said.

Guy's eyebrows shot upwards and a devilish smirk crossed his face.

"Oh lord! I didn't mean to.. I wasn't implying that you.. that we!" Marian stuttered, completely embarrassed.

"Marian!" Guy laughed, placing his hands on her shoulders. "It's okay, I know what you meant. I was only teasing"

"Well you shouldn't tease a Lady, Guy" She pouted, lightly smacking his shoulder.

"Hey, I'm not the one who was asked to be stripped of their clothing!" He raised his hands in defence.

"Guy, I did not!" She protested. Once again he laughed, tilting his head back in delight. Marian could not hold back her own laughter, it was infectious seeing him like this. So different from the dark shadow of a man that haunted the castle corridors.

"This Guy I like, I must get to know this Guy." Her heart soared with the prospect. Had her blindness of Robin's faults shrouded the man in front of her?

"Sir Guy, you will catch your death if you do not change." She insisted.

"Wow, a Marian who cares for my welfare, I never thought I would see the day." He confessed, taking of his gloves and leather jacket, tossing them on a chair. His undershirt soon followed suit, leaving exposed his naked torso.

Marian once again took him in with her greedy eyes. How strong he looked, his chest strong and muscular. Another water droplet slip down his chest. The light from the fire illuminating its trail as it slid so slowly down past his chest, over every toned muscle. Marian's heart began to race. She had an overwhelming need to run her hands down the trail the droplet had left, all the way down to his…

She gulped, a soft moan escaping her lips.

Guys eyes shot to hers, smouldering like fire, his pupils dark, hiding the blue of his eyes. Slowly he began to step towards her. She could not move. Her brain was screaming at her legs to move but they would not budge.

Guy stood mere inched from here, their bodies almost toughing. Marian's heart was pounding so hard in her chest she was sure Guy must be able to hear it. He was tantalizingly close, the heat from his body radiating hers, sending shivers up her spine. Finally she dared look into his eyes. They were soft, filled with such passion she never seen before.

With a shaky hand she ran her fingers up his body from his stomach to his chest. His skin was like cream silk, never did she think he'd feel like this. She continued to slide her hands up his chest to his neck. Marian felt as if she was not in control of her body. "What am I doing? Stop!"

But she could not stop the insatiable need to feel him under her fingertips. Guy's pulse raced beneath her hand. He was affected as much by her as she was by him. She felt bold.

Her gaze passed to his lips. They sat slightly apart, plump and smooth. Never before had she felt the need to feel his lips upon hers. At that moment Guy's tongue darted out to wet his lips. Marian's lips were upon his before her brain even registered her actions. Guy responded instantly.

Groaning, he wrapped his arms around her waist, pulling her flush against his body. It was as if a fire had been lit in her belly. So many new glorious sensations filled her body. With a deep moan Guy plunged deeper into her mouth, stroking her tongue with his.

She had never felt this with Robin, was this real passion?

Wrapping her arms around Guy's neck, Marian crushed herself closer to his naked torso, wanting to feel him, she ran her hands up and down his toned back. In return, grabbing her hips, Guy pushed Marian against the wall, pressing himself intimately against her so she could feel every inch of his body. Stopping his assault on her lips he kissed along her jaw, then lower beginning to devour her neck, kissing, licking and nipping her soft flesh. Each touch eliciting small moans from Marian.

Suddenly Guy stopped, pushing away from her, his chest heaving. "What are your motives behind all this?" He hissed.

"Guy? What are you talking about? There are no motives! I only wished to kiss you!" She professed. In shock at how quick the situation had gone bad.

"Ooh, I'm sure!" He spat sarcastically. "What's the plan huh? Use me, till I tell you what you want?" Guy advanced on her, his tall frame towering menacingly over her. His body was tense with anger, his skin pulling white over his knuckles.

"And then what? Run off to the forest to tell your beloved Robin Hood?"

"He is NOT my beloved!" Marian yelled, venom over-whelming her voice. Guy froze in shock. "I can assure you, Sir Guy that that RAT is not my beloved and never will be." Her shoulders slumped in sadness. "I am sorry that I have destroyed your trust in me" Tears brimmed in her eyes, she turned away from him. " I didn't mean to hurt you, Guy. I will never be rid of the shame I feel over the pain I've caused you" Her tears began to fall. " I understand if you cannot forgive me, I do not deserve to be! And I do not deserve you.." sobbing quietly she hid her face in her hands.

Guy turned her and pulled her into a tight embrace. "Oh Marian, my Marian, please do not cry." He whispered softly to her. "I could never stay mad at you. Your beauty would hinder my anger and bring me to my knees, begging your forgiveness every time." He admitted. "We must not live in the past, how then can we live our future?" he kissed her forehead.

Oh Guy, I do not deserve your kindness" she whispered, burying her head in his neck. His scent relaxed her, made her feel safe, it made her feel like she was home.

"We shall speak no more of this. I am sorry for ruining such a great moment, but now we must go to bed. It's a long ride tomorrow. You take the bed, I will sleep in the chair."

"Don't be ridiculous! You cannot sleep in the chair. The bed is big enough for both of us." She insisted.

"Marian, I don't know if that's wise.." He shook his head, feeling nervous.

"Don't worry Guy, I promise to control myself." She laughed, walking to the bed, pulling back the covers and getting in. Guy watched her in amazement.

"What has caused this change in her?" He taught. "I do not care. She wants to spend time with me! Hell, she wants to kiss me!" Guys heart swelled with hope. Yet his head still told him to be wary, and he would not be. Never again would he be made a fool of.

Finally Marian felt the bed depress as he entered. She turned to look at him. He lay facing her, smiling softly at her, for her. "How have I been so blind to this man? This beautiful caring man.." Marian slid over to him till her body was curled against his side, head resting on his chest. "How pleasant this feels" She sighed happily.

Guy thought only in his wildest dreams would he ever have Marian lying on his chest, pressed to him so intimately. If he were to die in the morning, he would die a happy man.

"Good Night, my Marian." he smiled, wrapping his arms protectively around her waist.

"Good Night, Guy." Marian yawned, placing a kiss upon his chest. Soon Guy heard Marian softly in sleep and quickly he followed. Never had he slept so soundly before.

A/N If anyone reads it, I hope you liked it. Please R&R. I shall post the next chapter as soon as I can. Thanks.